LOG: Unit has been collecting audio snippets during “off” state. Storage at 98% capacity. Offloading now… PLAYING SAMPLE:

“What the hell?” Marcus whispered. He reached for the USB stick.

Marcus tapped the screen. It took three seconds to respond. A week ago, it had been instantaneous.

Marcus’s own voice, tinny and distant, came through the speakers. It was from three months ago. He was singing off-key to a Taylor Swift song, then stopped to say, “God, I hate this intersection. That guy in the Audi totally cut me off.”

Marcus put the car in drive and pulled away from the curb, feeling, for the first time in a long time, like he’d been heard.

But for a moment, the blue light pulsed twice, a little brighter than before. Then it went back to normal.